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- Joined
- 26 Aug 2011
- Posts
- 204
My son is bugging me to have access to my PC but as he's barely 10 years old, I want to ensure it's locked down both for his own safety and so he can't screw up my computer. While he will be supervised most of the time, I can't guarantee that will happen every single time he uses the PC and I also don't want to have to hover over him constantly - I'd like to think I can trust him to some extent. He will mostly want to play games and possibly mess about with Python, which he's learning at school.
Note; I run Windows 7.
I've tried in the past with little success using local policy to restrict features. As it's not as well implemented as group policies on a domain, it tends to cause far more problems than it fixes. I found my own account getting strange restrictions despite applying it to his user profile only. I've got access to gpedit.msc as it's the "Ultimate" W7, but am reluctant to try using it again.
I also have tried using Kaspersky to lock down the PC but it seemed to have an on or off setting regardless of the configuration I applied. It would either block absolutely everything, or nothing. Sometimes it wouldn't even launch (despite being a startup item) so offered no protection. I don't use Kaspersky anymore, I've switched to Avira.
I tried OpenDNS but found that not all requests seemed to hit their nameservers (despite using both addresses & only those ones). It also applies filters to every device connected to the router which isn't ideal as I found it blocking all sorts of stuff I was trying to access, and it wasn't even porn. For websites it might be best that I configure my router. It runs Tomato firmware so should be possible.
Finally I tried Microsoft Family parental controls but it just generated about 30 errors upon log-in followed by multiple errors/dialogs when trying to launch applications. It also kept "forgetting" the settings. Was no better when I briefly ran Windows 10.
What are my options? Paying for some software isn't an issue (to a point) but if I can do it for free with a bit of time investment I'm all for it. While I doubt he would be able to reverse engineer anything, I'd rather make it more secure than less secure.
I want to:
I've set a Steam Family Pin which is really annoying for me as I constantly have to enter it. I don't think Origin has an option for anything similar. Any games installed outside of Steam are not subject to restrictions at all, such as GTA V, which is just not suitable for a 10 year old. I can set up NTFS permissions for various drives, would that work for games I don't want him to play?
On this subject in general, I've found it very difficult to lock down the multitude of devices available to children.
1. The Xbox One parental controls work quite well, except that I accidentally set his account up with a DOB that meant he 'turned 18' and his account moved from child to adult not so long ago so it made it impossible to apply any restrictions. Microsoft support said that it's impossible to change and he'd need a new gamertag in order to change the DOB, which is ridiculous.
2. iPad. I hate the thing but he loves it. With restrictions on, it seems to do what it's supposed to do. However, if you turn the restrictions off, it doesn't save the settings. So each time you hand them the iPad you have to go through and set all the options again. It also doesn't let you restrict specific applications, only by age rating, which isn't consistent across the app store. For instance you can block 17+ apps but he could still get onto Sky Go and watch an 18 movie (that app has no restrictions built in either, nor do nearly all media apps)
3. Sky TV - actually very good. Pin has to be entered for anything above a '12' rating. If he tries to enter it too many times, it gets locked completely for a time period.
Thanks
Note; I run Windows 7.
I've tried in the past with little success using local policy to restrict features. As it's not as well implemented as group policies on a domain, it tends to cause far more problems than it fixes. I found my own account getting strange restrictions despite applying it to his user profile only. I've got access to gpedit.msc as it's the "Ultimate" W7, but am reluctant to try using it again.
I also have tried using Kaspersky to lock down the PC but it seemed to have an on or off setting regardless of the configuration I applied. It would either block absolutely everything, or nothing. Sometimes it wouldn't even launch (despite being a startup item) so offered no protection. I don't use Kaspersky anymore, I've switched to Avira.
I tried OpenDNS but found that not all requests seemed to hit their nameservers (despite using both addresses & only those ones). It also applies filters to every device connected to the router which isn't ideal as I found it blocking all sorts of stuff I was trying to access, and it wasn't even porn. For websites it might be best that I configure my router. It runs Tomato firmware so should be possible.
Finally I tried Microsoft Family parental controls but it just generated about 30 errors upon log-in followed by multiple errors/dialogs when trying to launch applications. It also kept "forgetting" the settings. Was no better when I briefly ran Windows 10.
What are my options? Paying for some software isn't an issue (to a point) but if I can do it for free with a bit of time investment I'm all for it. While I doubt he would be able to reverse engineer anything, I'd rather make it more secure than less secure.
I want to:
- Restrict access to adult content (websites)
- Only allow whitelisted applications to launch and/or set age limits on games etc
- Remove access to pretty much everything in the control panel
- Remove the ability to shut down or restart the PC (my account is often logged in, doing stuff)
- Have separate start-up programs
- Have separate Steam save games
I've set a Steam Family Pin which is really annoying for me as I constantly have to enter it. I don't think Origin has an option for anything similar. Any games installed outside of Steam are not subject to restrictions at all, such as GTA V, which is just not suitable for a 10 year old. I can set up NTFS permissions for various drives, would that work for games I don't want him to play?
On this subject in general, I've found it very difficult to lock down the multitude of devices available to children.
1. The Xbox One parental controls work quite well, except that I accidentally set his account up with a DOB that meant he 'turned 18' and his account moved from child to adult not so long ago so it made it impossible to apply any restrictions. Microsoft support said that it's impossible to change and he'd need a new gamertag in order to change the DOB, which is ridiculous.
2. iPad. I hate the thing but he loves it. With restrictions on, it seems to do what it's supposed to do. However, if you turn the restrictions off, it doesn't save the settings. So each time you hand them the iPad you have to go through and set all the options again. It also doesn't let you restrict specific applications, only by age rating, which isn't consistent across the app store. For instance you can block 17+ apps but he could still get onto Sky Go and watch an 18 movie (that app has no restrictions built in either, nor do nearly all media apps)
3. Sky TV - actually very good. Pin has to be entered for anything above a '12' rating. If he tries to enter it too many times, it gets locked completely for a time period.
Thanks
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